May 29, 2012

State track an opportunity to see top football recruits

As the 2011-12 high school sports season winds down, there is one final chance for fans to watch some of their favorite football players before getting ready for their summer vacations: The state track meet.

In addition to athletes who will compete collegiately in track like Gahanna's Jake Blankenship (Tennessee) and Lancaster's Brannon Kidder (Penn State), two of the area's top junior football prospects also will be in attendance at the state meet along with a slew of senior football recruits.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are a few to watch.

Pickerington North junior Godwin Igwebuike will run on the 800 and 1,600 relays. The talented running back and defensive back now has 21 offers, including from BCS schools such as Boston College, Duke, Minnesota, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Iowa, Wake Forest, West Virginia, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Michigan State and Nebraska.

Hilliard Darby junior Caleb Day of Darby will be running the 110 hurdles. He has offers from Ohio State, Arkansas, Illinois, Louisville and Marshall.

One of the most exciting seniors to watch at the state meet will be Thomas Worthington sprinter Nana Kyeremeh, who will play for West Virginia. He's running at state in the 100, 400 relay, 800 relay and 1,600 relay.

Dublin Coffman senior Taylor Williams will run the 100, 200 and on the 400 relay. According to his page on ScoutingOhio.com, he has offers from Miami, Toledo, Kent State, Central Michigan, Ball State, Akron and Ohio University.

Beechcroft senior James Duncan won the regional long jump. He should end up with a Division II or III program. The last I checked in with him about it, he was considering Urbana and Santa Barbara City College in California.

Brookhaven senior Tajuan Green will run the open 100 and also is on the 400 and 800 relays. He will play football for Ohio Dominican

Pickerington Central senior Sebastian Smith, who just began competing in track and field this spring, is at state in the 400 relay. He will play for Ohio University

Reynoldsburg senior LaVonne Gauthney is competing in the shot put for the second consecutive season. He has an offer on the table from Youngstown State.